I am wondering how long bikes in general last, got a call about much better paid job, but I would need to commute by bike really, so punted around bike trader to see what could be had @£1500.

Saw a good selection of 500 twins (CB / GS / ER) and some OK Looking 600's (GSXF / Divvies / ZX6 / YZF-TC etc) with mileages from 10k up to about 40k.

Thing is how long do these smaller lumps go on for

I know big ZZR's can do big miles, but I want smaller & cheaper, much as a 2000 / 2001 ZX6R looks like fun I can't help feeling by 30k it is about to drop a valve or lose gears, the 500 twins look dirt cheap to run but with two more stressed cylinders are these worn out by 40k as well

Even liked the look of 650 single trailes, but reckon these would be most fragile of the lot, at least with 100BHP 600 it is never stressed in commute mode, whereas I guess 80MPH is caning the big trailies quite hard

Has anyone chunked up rocketship miles on smaller machines, or any mechanics out there that can recommend bikes to look for (or avoid):?:

Used to use a CB500 whilst instructoring that had 80,000 on the clock and is probably still going today. The student bikes were ER5's but they didn't fair as well. You'll be lucky to get 50,000 out of a GS. Dullvilles last forever and I've seen very high mileage Hornets. Can you see a pattern forming. The early Fazers were very good and long lived (that's why couriers love them) but good ones are like rocking horse poo now. A Beemer 650 single, if you can find one is the only single worth looking at but the chassis parts give up first. If I was looking I would try to find a 900 Hornet. Unburstable Blade motor in a very low state of tune in a simple chassis that doesn't fall apart. Will still be running when the seas boil.

found my zzr6 very reliable i commute daily from north wales to liverpool round trip just over 100 miles and no problems and its 18yrs old done this for the last 2 years change oil etc reguarly only prob has been 2 burnt valves but thats my own fault for not getting the shims done and its now got 44k on the clock.

my gpx 600R lasted for 24000 ...................... but I did throw it down the road

So any Honda or the old Thundecat Engine in either a Cat / Fazer / Diversion then

Did not think of 900 Hornet, will see what money they go for, bit put off as my mate raced a 600 and the handling was shite, even after suspension work, everyone who raced in the CB cup slagged the Hornets right off and raved about how much better the CB's were.

Then again for going up and down a dual carriageway for 100 miles a day should not require razor sharp handling.

CB 500's seem to go for a LOT more than equivelent age / mileage GS / ER models, but I guess there is a good reason for that - thanks for words of wisdom guys.

Oh and I know CB's crash well, I have seen many still racing after 10 or 15 lobs.

when I did my DAS me and another guy were on CB500's and from the look of them they had seen a good deal more lobs than 15 ............... engine was still sweet and they were both on 50K+

I guess riding schools use them for a reason too

I've got a 2002 600 Fazer for sale, under 29K miles heated grips + a few other things fitted, yours for £1600.

on a run this is really economical (50 plus to the gallon)

If I get the job I will see what rattlers you all have to offer

Hi Rasher,
I regularly work down in Bristol and have used ZZR6's over the last few years and would highly recomend them.
I bought my first D1 model with 19,000 miles on the clock and ran it up to 55,000 miles before I traded it for my E5 model.I got it serviced it at 8,000 mile intervals with valve clearances done at the alternate service.All I needed to replace were consumables, tyres BT020's and C&S kits. It had S/S exhaust on it to begin with (fiited under warranty/good faith as it blew 1 week after I got the bike).
At a comfortable 80/85 on the motorway it returned 55/60 mpg depending on weather conditions, high winds mainly. I could do the 220 miles with a fill up at 150 miles without the need for the services of a chyropracter. The full fairing provides great weather protection.
My E5 I bought with 6,000 miles on the clock and is now showing 59,000 with the same service regime and same consumable usage, although I bought the S/S down pipes this time.
The only problem I had with it was at 40,000 miles when trying to find a new tame mechanic i let some muppet loose on it who trapped a breather pipe and overheated the top end so had new valve stem oil seals done. All fine since.

So I would recomend going for a ZZR6 with under 20,000 miles up FSH and you'll be fine for 35,000 miles.........

Good luck with the job

My zzr600 has 70,000 is a bit rattly but i haven't serviced it since i bought it 8 years ago,apart from oil changing! My zzr1100 has been serviced regularly has done 108,000 so just buy it and thrash it,thats what they are made for!

Wow, great advice guys.

Be happy enough with a 600, a lot will come down to what lowish mileage bikes are about when (if) I am looking, shortlist (in no particular order) is:

ZZR6
Thundercat
Diversion
CB500
GSX600/750

Looking for under 10 years so it ain't too rotten and under 25k so I can get a few years out of it if need be.

Plus any other bargains, saw a decent Triumph the other day under £2k, one of the unfaired ones but was OK looking bout 10 years old and 30k on clock.


Will avoid R6 / ZX6 type bikes as they have normally been caned by some dickwad yoof and I think they are a bit more fragile, but saying that saw 55k R6 on Autotrader the other day!

Rasher mate,

looking for a bike for my mates son and I happened upon this
LINKY

4th one down 02' 30K, Black, FSH, 1 owner, service, MOT etc

If you're still looking that is

Oh and when My son did his CBT I checked ........... they have both been lobbed a few more times, one is on 69K and the other is on 83K

The CB's will easily reach 100,000 without trying. When I was training we used CB's (the poor students had to make do with ERs) and they were thrashed without mercy. Bizarrely they made my back ache and I preferred the ERs for comfort. The later ones are much better quality than the first lot which were built in Italy. These can be spotted as they have a drum rear brake. They're still ok but the paint falls off more readily. Beware ex race bikes.

My mate won the 1997 CB500 Cup on an early drum brake one, great track bikes and I was surprised how reliable they were, my mate took his to a track day and let me and another guy use it, one of us in each group the thing was flat out for 8 hours solid!

He passed it onto a mate who raced it for a year, then I borrowed it for track days for a year, it never missed a beat.

Can't comment on finish as it hit the deck a few times so hard to tell.

No go on initial job as they wanted immediate start, but after summer holidays will start looking seriously for something closer to home, or that pays enough to run car & bike.